Chapter 7: 007

Fang Zhiyi disagreed with letting Yan Zhichuan go out on the training expedition.

A good pill-refining seedling like her should be locked in the pill room, refining day and night—that was the proper way.

Yan Jizhi also didn’t really want Yan Zhichuan to leave, but the Heavenly Dao’s will had already taken notice of her. Keeping things dragged out like this wouldn’t do.

Yan Jizhi simply summoned the peak masters of Nine Abyss Sect’s six peaks all at once, to settle it in one go and avoid more junior sisters causing a fuss later.

“Little Zhichuan has already caught the eye of the Heavenly Dao’s will. That not-so-bright little fat bird is a manifestation of the Heavenly Dao, come to avert our demonic calamity,” Yan Jizhi said.

Ten thousand years ago, the Nine Summers Continent had endured a world-shattering war between immortals and demons. After fierce slaughter, the orthodox Xuanmen cultivators drove out the Demon Clan and erected the Profound Heaven Immortal Barrier, sealing the continent off from them. But the demonic calamity hadn’t been fully purged back then—falling from Xuan to demon was all too easy. Lingering demonic thoughts had corrupted some hearts, gathering into the Demon Sect to oppose the Xuanmen.

The Demon Sect served as puppets birthed by rampant demonic thoughts, their sole purpose to shatter the Profound Heaven Immortal Barrier and release the Demon Clan sealed on the other side.

The Heavenly Balance Mansion, masters of divining heavenly secrets on the Nine Summers Continent, had calculated twenty years ago that the demonic calamity loomed. Eighteen years ago brought the first omens—they would inevitably face a true battle against the demons.

“Isn’t it better to avert the calamity by keeping Little Zhichuan safe in the Nine Abyss Sect?” Fang Zhiyi frowned tightly.

“Heavenly secrets forewarned, Heavenly Dao’s will descended—perhaps letting Little Zhichuan venture out for training is the best path.” Yan Jizhi paused, then added, “She bears the ‘Name-Sealing Seal’ we placed on her. They won’t discover her identity.”

“When did the Sect Leader Senior Sister learn of this?” Shi Wujing, peak master of Blade Peak, asked.

Yan Jizhi looked up at the sky, lying through her teeth: “Just now.”

“This is only a trip to Luofu Immortal City to see the world. With Little Zhan along, nothing will happen.” Zhong Zhanxi shot a glance at the guilty-looking Yan Jizhi. Not even she had known—looks like she’d have to grill her properly tonight.

“I don’t think staying on the peak is so bad.” Fang Zhiyi stuck to her guns. Dao Pill—that was a Dao Pill! Sure, it looked a bit shabby, but Yan Zhichuan was only at Foundation Establishment First Layer right now. Once her cultivation advanced, she’d surely refine even more perfect pills.

“Second Senior Sister, training down the mountain broadens the horizons,” Su Yixian, peak master of Great Power Peak, said calmly.

Fang Zhiyi: “She can refine the lost Dragon Blood Pill, which enhances the physique of strength cultivators.”

Su Yixian covered her mouth and coughed lightly, immediately switching sides: “Second Senior Sister makes a good point.”

A soft hum sounded. Miao Tianyin, peak master of Artifact Peak, tossed a die onto the table, raring to go: “Let’s fight for it.” This die was her natal artifact, called Formless. It mostly appeared as a die, but it could shift into any weapon at will.

When discussion failed in the Nine Abyss Sect, their tradition was to fight until consensus.

—

At Nine Abyss Peak.

Yan Zhichuan itched to throw punches, excited.

Just moments ago, she’d successfully broken through to Foundation Establishment Second Layer.

If she went to solo the peak’s big goose now, she absolutely wouldn’t lose.

But what thrilled her even more was something else.

“Given how my master usually drags things out, settling this will take at least ten days or half a month. They’ll usually respect my wishes, so I’m probably off the hook from going to Medicine Peak.”

“And with the training undecided, no need to head down the mountain and suffer!”

The Heavenly Dao System had thought Yan Zhichuan was happy about her cultivation breakthrough. Hearing this, it flipped over in fury, wearing an exasperated look like scrap iron refusing to become steel: “Task! Task!” The mission was for her to tag along with Zhan Yujie and stop her from falling to demonhood—did they really expect her to slay a Golden Core demon herself?

“You aren’t seriously giving up on becoming a Sword Immortal, are you?” the System asked warily. It had lured her with the Sword of Nine Abyss; she showed little interest in pills now, and if she lost her obsession with sword immortality too, what would drive her forward?!

“Huh?” Yan Zhichuan froze. After a long moment, she murmured to herself, “Having my dreams shatter a bit… doesn’t seem so bad.”

“The debt you owe Medicine Peak was all paid by Zhan Yujie. Can you bear to watch her fall into irredeemable doom?”

Yan Zhichuan scratched her head: “But I don’t think Senior Sister will fall to demonhood.”

The System gnashed its teeth: “What if! What if!” Seeing her conflicted expression, a world-weary haggardness somehow appeared on Little Fat Chirp’s fluffy face. “Finish the task, and I’ll give you a spirit treasure sword.” The whole task system tied into medical cultivation and pill dao, and given her attitude, she didn’t want to learn it. It could only pull strings for a sword as a reward.

Yan Zhichuan let out a “Wow,” sincerely saying: “I love going down the mountain with Senior Sister Zhan the most.”

When they set off.

The six True Persons of Nine Abyss Sect had reached consensus: let Yan Zhichuan leave the sect for training.

Zhan Yujie arrived, sword in arms, to pick up Yan Zhichuan.

Sensing her cultivation had reached Foundation Establishment Second Layer, a weight lifted from Zhan Yujie’s heart.

Steady accumulation leads to breakthrough. After returning from Luofu Immortal City, she’ll probably hit Triple Layer Realm. Zhan Yujie looked approving, secretly pondering whether to beat that demon into a cripple for Yan Zhichuan’s practice.

Yes, Yan Zhichuan’s dream was to become a pill refiner.

But Medicine Peak’s healers in Nine Abyss Sect could all heft cauldrons with raw power.

Their founder had even devised a technique especially for healers: Cauldron Formula: Smash.

Yan Zhichuan couldn’t laugh.

She clenched her fists tight. This isn’t human anymore. Maybe the world ending would be easier.

Even if Zhan Yujie made her live off soft rice forever, she wouldn’t yield.

Luofu Immortal City was one of the Immortal Cities under Nine Abyss Sect’s guard—only half a day’s flight by sword.

The seal was centuries old. Back then, the demon in the Demon Well had been at Soul Transformation realm, worn down by sealing power to mere Golden Core.

Nine Abyss Sect cultivators could have slain it ages ago, but the forbidden array beneath the seal converted the demon’s power for their own use. Pity it had fallen to Golden Core First Layer, too weak to drive the array anymore.

No use left—time to send it on its way.

Having read plenty of storybooks, Yan Zhichuan had Luofu Immortal City’s lore at her fingertips.

Priority one: find the Demon Well, kill that useless workhorse demon, then beg Zhan Yujie to let her play in the Immortal City for two days, sampling the famed “heavenly nectar of immortals, earthly Luofu brew”—Luofu wine.

“Senior Sister, when do we head to the Demon Well?” Yan Zhichuan rubbed her fists eagerly, eyes gleaming with divine light.

Zhan Yujie blinked, surprised. The girl who’d slacked off atop the mountain was so eager down here? Did breaking through boost her confidence? So before, she just hadn’t found the right path? Zhan Yujie gazed deeply at Yan Zhichuan, a “the child can be taught” expression on her face: “Three days from now, at new moon rise.”

Yan Zhichuan: “!”

That meant three days to play in Luofu Immortal City?

“Senior Sister, where are we staying?” Yan Zhichuan asked next. She rode Cloudy, eyes fixed on the bustling street markets. Rumor had it West Market on Zhuque Street had tons of fun shops and snacks. The bookshops there were bigger than in small towns—any new releases?

Yan Zhichuan was lost in sweet dreams when Zhan Yujie doused her with cold water.

“Outside the city. A cave.”

Yan Zhichuan stared at the breezy, noble Zhan Yujie, words catching in her throat.

This was… broke?

Just as Yan Zhichuan drooped her head, bracing for a taste of camping with Zhan Yujie, the Heavenly Dao System blared again.

“Target appears!”

Yan Zhichuan jolted in shock. Target? Did the Demon Well demon escape? Goosebumps prickled her skin, but seeing Zhan Yujie’s calm face eased her.

No problem—Senior Sister hadn’t noticed, so it couldn’t be a demon.

“You screaming about?!” Yan Zhichuan snapped.

The Heavenly Dao System spoke again: “Target: Liu Yanqing appears.”

Yan Zhichuan followed its guidance. In the city, two figures—one green, one red—cuddled intimately.

Afraid she wouldn’t recognize them, the System slapped huge labels over their heads.

“Liu Yanqing, Chongxu Sect true disciple under Liu Kongsang, Foundation Establishment Third Layer.”

“Zhu Feng, Miracle Hand Sect healer, Foundation Establishment Third Layer.”

Yan Zhichuan’s jaw dropped, staring dumbfounded at the oblivious pair.

I’ve leveled up, and Liu Yanqing’s still stuck at Foundation Establishment Third Layer? So underwhelming? I figured anyone fated with Senior Sister Zhan would be a prodigy.

“Little Zhichuan, spotted an old acquaintance in the city?” Zhan Yujie asked.

Yan Zhichuan nodded mysteriously, deep as the abyss.

Meeting Yan Zhichuan’s all-seeing sage gaze, an odd feeling welled in Zhan Yujie’s heart.

That inexplicable sensation again.

“Want to go say hi?” Zhan Yujie asked.

“No need, no need.” Yan Zhichuan shook her head frantically.

But after the words left her mouth, she belatedly spotted the issue.

If she could see them, couldn’t Zhan Yujie too?

Wasn’t Liu Yanqing Senior Sister Zhan’s fiancée?

Didn’t Zhan Yujie send gifts to Chongxu Sect every so often?

Why act like she didn’t recognize them in person?

“Xiao Tian, are you glitching?” Yan Zhichuan’s eyes sparkled with wisdom.

The Heavenly Dao System fumed: “Impossible!”

Yan Zhichuan went “Oh.” System wasn’t broken, so her senior sister must have some sudden illness—blind? She looked at Zhan Yujie with deep sympathy: “Sorry, I didn’t know Senior Sister’s eyes were hurt. Once I master medicine, I’ll heal you.”

Zhan Yujie: “?”